Hydraulic dredging-machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. M. ROBBINS. HYDRAULIC DREDGING MACHINE.

/ IVTOH' (Mu/L ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 6, 1893.

' WITNESSES:

(No Modem WITNESSES.

J. M. ROBBINS. HYDRAULIC DREDGING MACHINE.

Patented June '6, 1893.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IIVVENTOH A TI'OHNE Y S.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

J. M. ROBBINS. HYDRAULIC DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 499,042. V Patented June 6, 1893.

A TTOHNE Y8.

UNTTED STATES JOHN M. ROBBINS, OF

FORT VORTH, TEXAS.

HYDRAULIC DREDGlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent bio/199,042, dated June 6, 1893 Application filed September 23, 1892- Serial No. 446,672. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN M. ROBBINS, of Fort WVorth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Hydraulic Dredging-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved device for the excavation of material from the bottoms and sides of channels or other water ways; and has for its object to provide a novel machine of the type indicated, which will afford means to rapidly loosen earth or gravel below the surface of a water course, mix it with water, and subsequently transfer and discharge the dbris upon the shore of the stream or within a floating receptacle, as may be desired.

To this end, my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of the device broken away at one end. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in section taken longitudinally, parts being removed at each end of the machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of a detail of construction taken on the line 8-3 in Fig. 4:. Fig. l is a broken longitudinal sectional view enlarged of an important feature of the invention. Fig. 5 is a View in cross section of the device taken on the line .55 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a front end view of the machine with parts broken away. Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken, longitudinal sectional view of a minor detail of construction. Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a pipe connection preferably employed on the machine, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the device broken away at the ends and some pipe connections removed.

There is a chamber or water-tight hull provided, preferably rectangular in form, which is divided longitudinally into two compartments A, A, by a horizontal floor a, see Fig. 5. The upper compartment A, is of a sufficient height to receive machinery that will be described, and the lower portion A, has a preferably cylindrical conduit 13, extended longitudinally through it, the bottom of the hull being depressed at b, and the conduit also, for a purpose that will be manifested. Any suitable means may be provided for lighting, ventilating, and affording access to the compartment A. At the rear end of the compartment A, there is a transverse partition a, erected which provides a room A that is utilized for the storage of coal or other fuel, that may be removed through a doorway a shown in Fig. 5. Upon the hull portion A, the cabin O, is erected, and around the deck of the part A, a strong railing c, is placed.

The conduit B, is extended beyond the hull portion Af, and is adapted to flex laterally and vertically by a bellows joint B. The latter shown detached in Fig. 4, consists of a corrugated shell made of leather, gum cloth or other suitable material, supported internally by a series of rings d, that are secured at spaced intervals on the inner side of the flexible shell B, and are connected bya number of longitudinally extended and spaced chains 6. One end of the bellows joint B, is secured upon the conduit wall near the front of the hull, by a clamping ring 3', a similar ring being used to clamp the opposite end portion of the corrugated shell upon the conduit extension.

At a suitable distance from the hull A, A, a receiver box D, is secured on the outer end of the conduit extension B, comprising a substantially rectangular wooden or metal struct ure, open forwardly and apertured at g, on its under side, see Fig. 1. The front end of the box D, is out sloping downwardly and forwardly, and a gate D, is hinged at the top edge thereto, so that an opening can be effected at the front by a vibration of the gate upwardly.

Preferably the vibration of the gate D,

when necessary, is effected by a float E, that is a hollow chamber of wood or metal,secured on the gate and provided with pipes f, f to respectfully introduce air and water therein, and which will be further mentioned.

A main shaft F, is rotatably sustained centrally and longitudinally within the conduit B, forwardly of the depressed portion of the same, by suitable supports it it one of which is located in the sloping wall of the conduit, consisting of a box h, that is adapted to seal the joint between the conduit and the part b, of the compartment A, as shown in Fig. 2.

On the shaft F, a conveyer screw blade F, is spirally affixed near the front support h of said shaft, its edge having a loose contact with the conduits inner surface, the pitch of the screw blade being such as will best adapt it for efficient service.

The end portion of the shaft F, that extends within the sunken part or pit b, of compartment A, is provided with a crank b and in a pedestal box b a short shaft is supported to rotate in axial alignment with the shaft F, having a crank on one end, and a similar crank b on the opposite end, all of the cranks having the same throw; Above the cranks in the pit b, a twin cylinder steam engine G, is located on the floor (1, having its working crossheads connected to the cranks by pitmen as usual, these parts being so arranged that a continuous rotary motion will be communicated to the shaft F, when the engine is in operation.

Steam generators consisting of a battery of" boilers II, are furnished for supplying steam to the engine G, and also to a force pump I, of any approved construction, the latter being designed to supply water under pressure to a'jet pipe J, that is forwardly extended through the front of the compartment A, to a point above the receiver box D, through which it is downwardly projected within the aperture 9 in the bottom of said box, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said pipe being sustained in position by posts 21, or equivalent means; It is also contemplated to provide the jet pipe J, with a suitable nozzle adapted for the projection of a stream of water in a horizontal plane or at any desired angle, said pipe being adapted for flexure by joints, and any proper means for retaining the pipe at an angle or in a straight line, or any other suitable jet device may be applied on the box D as found desirable.

Any desired number of the steam boilers H, within the capacity of the hull to contain, may be supplied, these being connected by a steam pipe H that is branched to connect it with the steam pump, and also joins the engine G, as shown in Fig. 2.

On each side of the receiver box D, 'a float M, is by preference located, being hollow chambers of wood or metal and each supplied with an air pipe m and a waterpipe m which are extended within the compartment A. The air pipes f, m, of the floats E and M, are attached thereto by their outer ends, and at their inner ends have a connection with an air compressor chamber N, which receives air under pressure from a pump or similar device (not shown) whereby the floats may be supplied with air in a condensed state when valves 42 in the air pipes are manipulated to effect such a result,other valves 12 being provided to discharge the air when this is desired.

The outer ends of the water supply pipesf',

m, are by preference attached to the floats E, M, near their lowersurface, and theirother terminals are preferably connected to the pipe J, as at m in Fig. 2, valves 0, being provided to control the flow of water to the smaller pipes. It is to be understood that the number of valves is sufficient to suitably control the flow of water, one being represented in Fig. 2, and a valve 19 is connected to each pipe m',f, whereby the water in the floats may be allowed to escape into the conduit B. When it is desired to out off the flow of water to the floats the valve 19 is closed and the valve 0', in the jet pipe J, may also be set to control the flow of water through said pipe.

The air and water pipes that are in connection with the floats E,M, are sustained in position by the posts 2',- and above the bellows joint B, a flexible connection is furnished for each pipe, so that a flexnre of the joint on the conduit extension will be permitted and a corresponding deflection be produced in the water and air pipes.

In Figs. 7 and 8, two styles of joints are shown which will afford means for the flexible connection of the pipesf', m, and also the main jet pipe J, to permit their lateral or vertical deflection from a straight line. The joint represented in Fig. 8, consists of a leather or gum sleeve 3, that is clamped at its ends upon the separated ends of the pipe it is to joint, and to reinforce this piece 8, so as to prevent its collapse, wire coils 8', 8 are placed upon its exterior and within the sleeve, the latter being of a strength sufficient to withstand a heavy pressure when in service. The other joint, shown in Fig. 7, is made of two cupped chambers u, each furnished with an internally-threaded socket, and both held together so as to be water-tight and free to rotate partly, by a bolt to; when very heavy pressure is to be applied to the jet pipe J, the metal flexing joint may be used to advantage.

It is to be understood that the pipe J, may be made entirely of strong hose, so as to be flexible throughout its length except at the nozzle end, if this is preferred.

The conduit B, is prolonged at the end nearest to the screw blade F, by a discharge pipe B that is by preference made of sheet metal so as to be light and strong, a sufficient length being afforded to said pipe for effective service, to facilitate which there is a bellows joint B introduced in the discharge pipe at a convenient point.

As it is desirable to change the direction of the outer portion of the discharge pipe 13 from a straight line, guy ropes w, are at tached to it at a point beyond the bellows joint B and also to winches O, on the deck of the hull as represented in Fig. 9, which will afford means to lift the pipe at its free end, and if necessary swing it toward either side, as indicated by dotted lines and arrows in said figure. If preferred the ropes or chains 20, may be extended within the compartment A, and be connected to any power driven device that will effect the same result as the winches 0.

As the lateral movement of the receiver box D, may be necessary in service, guy chains or ropes a, are connected by one end to the forward end of the box, see Figs. 6 and 9, and thence extended within the compartment A of the hull, to be drawn upon as occasion may require, their points of entrance being rendered water-tight in any suitable manner.

In service, the machine entire, is floated to any point where it is to be used, and then water is introduced within the lower compartment A, so as to cause the submergence of the hull, which may be up to the dotted line y-y, in Fig. 1. The steam engine is started when the receiver box D, is properly located to permit the jet pipe J, to project a stream of Water under great pressure from the point or nozzle end of said pipe, the force pump I, furnishing the requisite pressure of water therefor. The rapid rotation of the screw blade F, will create an outward movement of the water within the conduit B, and draw the material loosened by the water jet along with the water current, the plastic material being forcibly ejected from the outer end of the discharge pipe B If the hull is located parallel with the bank of a stream that is to deepened and the debris is to be ejected upon said bank, the discharge pipe B is directed in the proper line to effect such a result, and as the mud, gravel, and water are thrown out of the free end of the pipe, the projected material will remain while the water flows away from it, so that a solid bank is thus speedily built from material removed from the channel. When the receiver box D is to be lowered, the valves for the water and air pipes that are connected with the floats E, M, are properly manipulated to allow water to enter and displace the air, so that the receiver box may be maintained in close proximity to the bottom of the water channel and the jet pipe likewise; and should there be a need of more water to mix with the loosened material, the gate D, may be elevated by the introduction of air into the float on it as before explained.

WVhen the machine entire is to be moved, the water is pumped out of the hull compartment A, so that the hull will float, the pump being available for such a purpose; and as a means for propulsion, the screw blade F, may be utilized, it being understood that the conduit and discharge pipe are below the surface of the water of floatage.

It will be evident that from the complete control afforded over all parts of the mechanism, the Work of excavation below the surface of a water body, can be rapidly effected; and, in case it is not desired to discharge the excavated material upon the bank of the stream, or wharf of a harbor, the dbris can be thrown directly into a lighter that is to transport the material to a point of discharge.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A suction pipe provided with a receiving box having an inclined open end, and a hydraulically and pneumatically operated gate for the said open end, substantially as set forth.

2. A suction pipe provided with a receiving box open at its outer end and a hinged gate for said open end and provided with a float having water and air pipes leading to it, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a hull adapted to float or sink by Water ballast, a longitudinal conduit in the base of the hull, a shaft rotatable longitudinally in the conduit, a screw blade thereon, and a driving mechanism for the shaft, of a flexing discharge pipe at one end of the conduit, aflexing extension at the other end of said conduit, a receiver box on said extension, and a water jet device supported on said extension,substantially as described.

4E. The combination with a hull composed of two compartments and adapted to float or sink by water ballast, a longitudinally extended conduit within the lower compartment of the hull, an axially supported rotatable shaft within the conduit and having a screw blade thereon, and a driving mechanism for the shaft, of a water pump in the upper compartment of the hull, means to drive the pump, a jet pipe extended forwardly from the pump, a forward extension on the conduit,'adapted to flex laterally and vertically, a receiver box on said extension and penetrated by the jet pipe, and means to float or sink the box, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a hull divided into two compartments by a floor and a pit in said floor, a conduit below the floor bent to clear the pit, an axially supported rotatable shaft in the conduit and a screw blade on the shaft, an engine adapted to rotate the shaft, anda steam generator supplying said engine, of a flexibly jointed discharge pipe on the conduit, a forward extension on the conduit, a receiver box on said extension, a water pump within the hull, means to drive the pump, and a jet pipe extending from the pump into the box and through the latter, substantially as described.

6. In a hydraulic dredging machine, a float ing structure that may be sunk by water ballast, a cylindrical conduit arranged longitudinally within the hull, a bellows-jointed discharge pipe on one end of the conduit, and means to flex the discharge pipe, an extension at the front end of the conduit, a water jet device on a box on said extension, a hinged gate on the box, and floats on the box and gate, adapted to receive air or water, substantially as shown and described.

7. A suction pipe having a receiving box provided with floats and a float actuated gate for the box and Water and air pipes leading to. said box and gate floats, substantially as set forth.

8. In a hydraulic dredger, a conduit longitudinally located in a hull and extended at one end, and adapted to flexin all directions, a receiving box on the conduit, a cylindrical float on each side of the box, a gate on the front end of said box, inclined forwardly and downwardly, a cylindrical float on the gate, an air and water supply pipe for each float, and an air and water supplying device in the hull, substantially as described.

9. A suction pipe having a flexible section permitting it to be swung in all directions, a receiving box at its outer end provided with floats, a float actuated gate for the box, and water and air pipes leading to the box and gate floats, substantially as set forth.

10. In a hydraulic dredger, a flexible joint for an extension of the conduit, comprising a corrugated flexible shell, a series of rings secured at intervals within the shell, a series of chains longitudinally extended within the shell and attached to the rings, and means to clamp the shell onto the ends of the conduit extension, substantially as described.

11. In a hydraulic dredging machine, a submergible hull having a through conduit below the Water line, and means for inducing a current through said conduit; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. In a hydraulic dredging machine, a submergible hull having a through conduit beconduit within the hull, said induction pipe,

provided with means for disintegrating the material to be dredged; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a hydraulic dredging machine, the combination with a sinkable hull having a through conduit below the water line, of a rotatable shaft arranged in said conduit and provided with propeller blades for inducing a current through said conduit, and an engine mounted in the hull and directly connected with the rotatable shaft in the conduit; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

14. In a hydraulic dredging machine, a sinkable hull having a floor which divides it into two compartments said floor having a pit therein, a through conduit in the lower compartment, the area of said conduit being preserved, opposite the pit in the floor, a rotatable shaft arranged insaid conduit and provided with a propeller blade, said shaft projecting into the pit in said floor, and an engine coupled directly to the propeller shaft within the pit; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOHN M. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

ROBERT E. CONINE, ABRAM A. GREEK, Jr. 

